John j



(No Model.)

J. J. DECKER.

MSIG RACK FOR UPRIGHT MANOS.

No. 323,282. Patented July 28, 1885.

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UNrrEn STATES ATENE JOHN J. DECKER, OF NFV YORK, N. Y.

MUSEC=RACK FOR UPRlGl-ll' MANOS.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. DECKER, of the city and county of New York,in the State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement inMusic -Raeks for Upright Pianos, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to that class of music rack for an upright piano ororgan which consists of a flat board or plate arranged opposite anopening in the front of the instrument, and pivoted at its top, so thatit may be swung back to lie in a plane parallel with and close to saidfront, or forward into an inclined position, and a rest composed of aseparate piece supported by pivoted arms, so that it may be swung downto occupy a position below the board or plate when the latter is swungforward, and to then serve as a rest for the lower edge of themusic-book or piece of music.

r1he invention consists in the combination, with the rack and rest,pivoted as described, of a iiexible strap connecting them in a novelmanner,hereinalter described, and pointed out in the claim, whereby thestrap will be made to serve a variety of purposesnamely, to prevent therest from dropping back against the action when the rack is closedagainst the front of the instrument; to'pull the rest forward when theboard, which constitutes the rack, is itself drawn forward; to steadyand support the rest as it swings downward and outward when the saidboard is drawn forward, to sustain the rest in proper relation to theboard or rack and prevent its drop ping below a position to support themusic, and to accomplish all these results noiselessly and without anyknocking or rattling of parts.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a back view of aportion of the 'front of a piano and my music-rack applied thereto, therack being shown in a closed position. Fig. 2 is a vertical section onthe plane of the dotted line x w, Fig. l, also showing the rack closed;and Fig. 3 is a Vertical section on theplane of the dotted line y y,Fig. l, showing the rack open or adjusted into a position for use.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in theseveral figures.

A designates a portion of the front of the instrument, in which is alarge opening, A.

=PEC`FEATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 323,282` dated July28,1885.

Application filed May "I, 1BS5.

(No model.)

The rack consists of two principal partsa board or plate, B, and a rest,C, which is here shown as L shapedVcomprising a back portion, b, and abottom portion or ledge, c, eX- tending at right angles, or thereabout,to the portion b.

To the rear side of the front A, and adjacent to the upright ends of theopening A', I have here represented as attached strips or pieces A2,which strengthen the front adjacent to its opening, and to which arepivoted at (Z e arms or hangers D E.

The arms D are curved, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and support the boardor rack B at its top, so that it may swing freely to bring it to theposition shown in Fig. 2, where it is parallel with the front A andcovers the opening A', or to bring it to the i'brwardly-inclinedposition shown in Fig. 3 when it is desired to use it.

The arms E have attached to their outer or free ends the rest O, and byreason of the pivots e the rest and its arms E may be swung upward intoa position behind the board B, as shown in Fig. 2, or forward anddownward into the position shown in Fig. 3. When swung into this latterposition, the part b of the rest will be coincident with and form aprolongation of the board B, and the part o of the rest will projectforward therefrom and support the lower edge of the music book or sheet.

I have represented a spring-catch, f, for holding the rack B in itsclosed position. This catch holds the rack strongly enough to prevent itfrom accidentally swinging forward, but not so strongly that it cannotbe readily swung forward by taking hold of a knob or handle, g, withwhich it is provided.

The board or principal part of the rack B and the rest G are connectedby a strap or iiexible band, F, which is combined with them in a novelmanner, and which constitutes an important element of my invention. Thisstrap F is attached at its one end, 71 to the inner side of the board B,considerably above its lower edge or near the middle of its height, andits other end is attached at i to the upper part of the rest C.

Vhen the parts are adj usted to the position shown in Fig. 3, the strapF sustains the rest C and holds its portion b coincident with and IOOagainst the lower edge ol' the board B, and in moving the parts from theposition shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3 the strap controls thefalling of the rest C and prevents the arms E from striking` thel loweredge of the opening` A and making` a noise. Then the board Bis to beswung back or closed, it is iirst pulled forward enough to permit therest to swing up behind it, and as it is moved back to the positionshown in Fig. 2 the strap is deflected around the rest, so as to take upits slack, and prevents the rest from droppin` back against the action.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Lettersatent, is-

The combination, with the front A of a mu Sical instrument, having` init an opening, A, of the rack or board ]3,pivoted at its top, a restsupported by arms E, having` ixed piv` otal supports at their innerends, and a strap, F, attached at one end to the rest, and at the otherend to the inner side of the rack or board B at a point considerablyabove its lower edge, substantially as herein described, whereby thestrap is caused to sustain the rest when in use and to prevent itsfallinr back against the action of the instrument when not in use.

JOHN J. DECKER.

\Vitnesses:

C. HALL, FREDK. HAYNns.

